| Wear a pink breast cancer ribbon, and you can raise | | | | The pink ribbon is an icon of hope for women. It not |
| awareness. Just by having your ribbon pinned on, or | | | | only reminds women to have regular screenings, it |
| by having a pink ribbon in the window of your vehicle | | | | encourages everyone to give to research and other |
| or in a public workplace, you remind women to get | | | | non-profit agencies, such as the American Cancer |
| regular screening, to do self-exams, and to talk to | | | | Society and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer |
| their doctors. | | | | Foundation, agencies on the front lines of the |
| Maybe the ubiquitous pink ribbon's best purpose is to | | | | struggle to educate, treat and promote awareness. |
| indicate solid social support to those who are fighting | | | | Every year, the "Race for the Cure" in over 100 U.S. |
| breast cancer. Research indicates that social support | | | | cities and towns. Millions of Americans participate in |
| has significant positive impact on outcomes for | | | | this awareness-raising event, a five-K run/fitness |
| patients. | | | | walk. The sight of hundreds, even thousands, of |
| Social support is sometimes experienced as a | | | | women walking side by side in their pink caps and |
| subjective feeling of connection to others. One | | | | with their pink ribbons on their chests is undeniably |
| recent study showed that women who had strong | | | | the most hopeful image one could witness. |
| social connections to others were able to function | | | | The American Cancer Society annually sponsors |
| better as they made their way through treatment, | | | | "Relay for Life," a mobilizing awareness event where |
| and experienced less anxiety, depression, and pain. In | | | | the pink ribbon is prominently displayed. Nationwide, |
| other words, not being isolated in the midst of crisis | | | | over 4,800 teams of 8 to 15 survivors and |
| enhanced quality of life and helped women in the | | | | supporters perform a 24-hour relay circling a track, |
| study cope. | | | | with survivors taking the first laps. It's a time of |
| It's such a small gesture to wear or display a pink | | | | sharing and fun as well, as participants camp out with |
| ribbon. This little ribbon reminds is that somewhere, | | | | tents and sleeping bags with the goal of keeping one |
| someone's life is at stake. Sometimes people need a | | | | team member on the track at all times. |
| reminder, since over 40,000 women die every year in | | | | Women can survive breast cancer, a disease that |
| the U.S. | | | | strikes one out of eight American women, and even |
| It's the little things in life that make the difference. | | | | some men. But women need hope to heal |
| The first time you see the pink ribbon, you ask, | | | | themselves and to get through diagnosis and |
| what is that? Often that is the first time you ask | | | | treatment. Women need support, something that |
| about breast cancer, if your life or that of a loved | | | | anyone can provide by wearing a pink breast cancer |
| one has not yet been touched by it. | | | | ribbon! |